People

Karen Wolfgang (Owner & Project Coordinator) was born and raised in PDX’s West Slope neighborhood; she grew up helping out with her parents’ small business. Karen attended Princeton University, where she earned her BA in Anthropology and Environmental Studies in 2006. She re-settled in Portland shortly thereafter, and in 2008 received her MA in Educational Leadership at Portland State University, with a specialization in Leadership in Ecology, Culture, and Learning. Karen has been working in garden-based ed in the Portland area for the past three years—most recently, serving an AmeriCorps term as the Garden-Based Ed Team Leader through the Northwest Service Academy. Karen is certified in Permaculture Design; she sees Independence Gardens as a prime opportunity to connect to and strengthen relationships with individuals and organizations in the greater Portland area. You can contact her at Karen@IndependenceGardensPDX.com.

Isabel LaCourse (Owner & Project Manager) grew up in Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood, working outside with her Master Gardener mom. She remembers being with her family during work parties spent turning the compost and working the land. She has always been aware of the importance of the connections between things—especially between food and well-being. She joined Search and Rescue at age 14, and every year since then has dedicated around 550 hours a year volunteering her time to support the community. The importance of helping others and sharing her knowledge is a priority in her life. Isabel is a Master Gardener; she believes in gardening’s ability to foster connections with people and plants, and feels that it’s the perfect medium to share her knowledge and help people help themselves. You can contact her at Isabel@IndependenceGardensPDX.com.

Campaign Coordinator Karen Pyle loves dirt! She loves the smell, feel and color of it and all the stuff that lives and grows in it.  As a native Oregonian, Karen grew up in a family who grew and picked a majority of the food they ate. She loved getting the seeds in the ground in the spring and then watching in awe as they broke through the surface and grew into something that went on the table or in a jar or in the freezer.  After having a career as a graphic designer, she recently completed a Permaculture Design Course and a Master Gardener course. She is thrilled about getting dirty again and networking to create food security in the local area. You can contact her at Karen.Pyle@IndependenceGardensPDX.com.

There are a few other faces that you might see on a job with us: Cole, Jake, Kurt, Tygh, and/or Zachary. Here they are, so you’ll recognize them when you see them in uniform!

Cole

Jake

Kurt

Tygh

Zachary